Columbia Founders started at Columbia Business School about 10 years ago as a way to connect its entrepreneurs with the School and the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. As Columbia Entrepreneurship and the Startup Lab grew its capacity as a co-working space to help nurture Columbia entrepreneurs the University recognized the opportunity to support them and be supported by them in turn as successful exits occurred. Over three thousand startups have been created in the last decade and billions of dollars are being raised by Columbia startups annually.
Founders is positioned to be the central resource for Columbians who are at any stage of entrepreneurship. It is allied with the Columbia Venture Community whose thousands of members include those interested in becoming entrepreneurs, active entrepreneurs as well as advisors and investors. Membership in our community is available to any Columbia graduate who maintains an equity stake in a venture, including those serving as founders, individual backers, advisors, consultants or institutional partners. Our members provide expertise based on their experience. They serve as mentors, volunteers, speakers and venture competition judges.
Founders is led by alumni volunteers with the support and assistance of Columbia’s Office of Alumni Relations and Development. If you need help navigating our entrepreneurial ecosystem please get in touch.
Columbia University ranks 6th globally for the number of founders, and our women Alumni rank 5th (Pitchbook 2025).